Objections may be lodged against assessments issued to clients or decisions of the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner or a delegate of the Commissioner. In providing assistance, the Department seeks to ensure that the original assessments and decisions are accurate and that the number of successful objections to these is minimised. Accordingly, the target is for over 80 per cent of objections to result in the original assessment being confirmed as accurate.

5. Revenue Branch operating expenses as a percentage of taxation revenue

An indication of the efficiency of the revenue management services provided by the Department can be gained by comparing total taxation revenue collected with the operating costs required to administer and collect that revenue. The target is for these costs to be kept to a very small proportion of revenue collected.

6. Percentage of liquor applications submitted to a hearing before the Licensing Board within 40 days of receipt

The Department assists the Licensing Board of Tasmania by receiving applications for licences, undertaking investigations on behalf of the Commissioner for Licensing and providing recommendations to the Board on whether the applicant is fit and proper in accordance with the requirements of the Liquor Licensing Act 1990. The measure relates to the time taken by the Department to complete its investigations and prepare submissions for the monthly Board meetings. The target for 2007–08 has been revised upwards from 75 per cent to 80 per cent.

Community Assistance – Budget Output Group 4

Community Assistance provides specified funds to support particular communities and subsidised assistance to various segments of the community. The Government's community service obligations to the Bass Strait Islands and The Public Trustee are included in this Output Group.

Bass Strait Islands Community Service Obligation (Budget Output 4.1)

We manage the Community Service Obligation payment that subsidises the supply of electricity to customers who live on the Bass Strait Islands. It also provides for concessions to be extended to pensioner customers on King and Flinders Islands.

The Public Trustee Community Service Obligation (Budget Output 4.2)

We administer this Community Service Obligation payment to The Public Trustee. It provides assistance for the administration of:

• Absolute Estates with a gross asset value of less than $60 000.
• Continuing Trust and Life Tenancy Estates with a gross asset value of less than $100 000.
• Minor Trusts with a gross asset value of less than $20 000.
• Assets for Represented Persons with a gross asset value of less than $100 000.